The Cleveland Browns may add a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson remains one of the most frequently mentioned names.
But according to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot, drafting Simpson would not necessarily close the door on Shedeur Sanders winning the starting job.
“I don’t think Simpson would have to climb to the top of the heap right away. It’s OK to let a quarterback wait a bit,” Cabot said in a recent Q&A column. “Green Bay’s Jordan Love and others have had to wait their turn. If they draft Simpson at No. 24 or No. 39, it means they believe he has plenty of upside and might have a chance to supersede Sanders.
“But it doesn’t mean they’d have to give up on Sanders or part with him right away. I think the Browns truly feel that Sanders has an excellent chance to elevate his game and become a quality NFL starter. It wouldn’t be out of the question to see how Sanders plays, and go from there, with Simpson waiting in the wings.”
Browns Hold Two First-Round Picks, Pick No. 39
The Browns hold two first-round picks — Nos. 6 and 24 — along with No. 39 early in the second round, giving them flexibility if they decide to target Simpson.
Ultimately, the cost will drive the decision. If Cleveland can land Simpson on Day 2 at No. 39, the equation is a bit simpler. They’re adding a developmental upside play without sacrificing premium capital. But if they pull the trigger with either first-round pick, the expectations shift dramatically, with immediate impact becoming part of the equation.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry spoke positively about Simpson after the Alabama quarterback visited with the team ahead of the draft.
“Son of a coach, really smart, very driven, he’s physically talented,” Berry said. “He has a very unique college journey, in terms of coming in as a five star and then really having to wait his turn behind two pretty talented quarterbacks [in] Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe before getting his chance under center. And he did a great job maximizing it.”
Simpson racked up 3,567 passing yards and 28 touchdowns in his lone season as Alabama’s starter. He also has a pre-existing relationship with new Browns head coach Todd Monken, who recruited Simpson to Georgia before departing for the NFL.
“Really fond of Ty, obviously a really good football player,” Monken said. “Fired up for him because in today’s day and age for him to stay as long as he did at Alabama and then get a chance to be the starting quarterback is pretty cool.”
Sanders Has Already Made a Strong Offseason Impression
While the Browns weigh their options at the draft, Sanders has been doing his part to make the decision harder. Monken noted earlier this spring that Sanders had spent a significant portion of the offseason in Cleveland working out at the facility.
Monken has been openly complimentary of Sanders’ skill set since taking the job in Cleveland.
“I think you see playmaking ability. I think you see a player who is confident in his skillset,” Monken said on ESPN’s This Is Football. “When you see that playmaking ability and inner confidence, you say, ‘OK, there is something to work with there. That’s the thing that excites you.’”
Sanders enters Year 2 coming off a rookie campaign that had its highs and lows. He was named to the Pro Bowl as a replacement, becoming the first Browns quarterback to earn that distinction since Derek Anderson in 2007. In eight appearances, Sanders completed 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions across a 3-4 record in his starts.
His best performance came in Week 14, when he threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns against the Titans.
Cleveland’s current quarterback room includes Sanders, Deshaun Watson and Dillon Gabriel heading into the offseason program. The Browns have been clear that no one is entering camp with a guaranteed starting job.
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